Busch to delay Dubai theme parks

Busch Entertainment Corp. said it has delayed Worlds of Discovery, a collection of four theme parks in Dubai, for at least a year.

The company, which owns Busch Gardens in Tampa and is a division of Anheuser-Busch InBev, and its partner Nakheel PJSC, a Dubai development company, said they have extended a memorandum of understanding for development of the four parks — SeaWorld, Aquatica, Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove.

Busch spokesman Fred Jacobs said the partnership “will announce a new completion date in due time.” He said the two companies “remain committed” to moving ahead with the projects.

SeaWorld and Aquatica were scheduled to open in 2012, followed by Busch Gardens and Discovery Cove in 2015.

Busch Entertainment Corp. operates nine theme parks across the country. The division moved its corporate headquarters from St. Louis to Orlando last summer.